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"Quick" end bar question

I am getting ready to make some progress on my first larger (250) batch of medium frames from scratch, simple question.

How far should the wider portion of the end bar go before it narrows? In my experience this (the fatter upper portion) is where the bees propolise the frames together, wouldn't I want it to be only far enough to facilitate handling multiple frames at a time? Like say 2"?

Re: "Quick" end bar question

Re: "Quick" end bar question

The upside of longer ones is the frames flop less. The upside of shorter ones is the bees can communicate better and when sliding frames together less bees get trapped. You can do anything from no inlet (straight end bars 1 1/4" wide) to just a nail that holds them apart with 1" end bars. I usually do 1" end bars with a nail for the spacer. Carl Killion did something similar.

Re: "Quick" end bar question

I don't really measure mine, but made them similar to the factory Hoffman frames. Anything over an inch and a half should work, and more than 2.5" is probably going to be similar to leaving them uncut.

I have some in use that I did not cut back, and it's really necessary to scrape the propolis off every time you take them apart to get them to fit back in properly. The short sections, when properly installed, don't get so gummy.

If you drill for cross wires, probably leaving them full width down to the first hole will work just fine.

I taper mine on the jointer, so it's pretty easy to clamp a stop block on and go to town on them. Same deal on a router table, I think.